Contra Costa Lawyer - Contra Costa County Bar Association
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<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong><br />
Volume 22, Number 3 • March 2009<br />
The official publication of the<br />
B A R A S S O C I A T I O N<br />
Family Law
Whiting, Fallon, Ross & Abel, LLP<br />
Matrimonial Attorneys<br />
William F. Whiting<br />
Certified Family Law Specialist<br />
Andrew Ross<br />
Certified Family Law Specialist<br />
R. Ann Fallon<br />
Certified Family Law Specialist<br />
Gregory C. Abel<br />
Certified Family Law Specialist<br />
f<br />
Kimberly Campbell<br />
Courtney O’Hagan<br />
Michael T. Bonetto<br />
Founded in 1981, Whiting, Fallon, Ross & Abel, LLP devotes its practice<br />
exclusively to family law matters. Each of the partners is a Certified Family<br />
Law Specialist, certified by the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California, Board of Specialization,<br />
and each of the partners is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial<br />
<strong>Lawyer</strong>s. The firm employs discovery paralegals and legal assistants, each of<br />
whom has had extensive training and experience in the Family Law practice.<br />
101 Ygnacio Valley Road, Suite 250, Walnut Creek, California 94596<br />
telephone (925) 296-6000 • facsimile (925) 296-6001 • email whiting@disso.com
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong><br />
Volume 22, Number 3 • March 2009<br />
B A R A S S O C I A T I O N<br />
c o n t e n t s<br />
features<br />
8 Thoughts on Practicing<br />
F family Law in a depressed market<br />
Are we in an economic depression? You'll want<br />
to read what this author has to say!<br />
David M. Lederman<br />
10 Appraisals and challenges in the<br />
current market environment<br />
Is your divorce case dragging on for months? Read<br />
how the appraisal "update" can play a pivotal role,<br />
among other factors.<br />
Steve Lederer<br />
14 The Bus and the taxi<br />
Should a client take the bus (public court) or a taxi<br />
(private judging)? Each option has its advantages.<br />
Judge <strong>Bar</strong>ry Goode and Judge Pro Tem Lee Pearce<br />
departments<br />
4 Inside<br />
Lee Pearce<br />
6 Judicial Profile<br />
Hon. Brian F. Haynes<br />
12 Question Man<br />
How do you think the same-sex marriage<br />
issue will eventually be resolved?<br />
20 ethics Corner<br />
Carol M. Langford<br />
22 Classifieds<br />
18 The vacation Maven<br />
Planning a "staycation"? This article provides<br />
some budget-conscious alternatives.<br />
M. Sue Talia<br />
About the cover . . .<br />
Is this couple fighting<br />
over who gets the house...<br />
or who gets stuck with it?<br />
Normal times, these are not.
proofed, spell checked, hyphens, alignment<br />
inside<br />
2009 BOARD of DIRECTORS<br />
Larry Cook President<br />
Ron Mullin President-Elect<br />
Kathy Schofield Secretary<br />
Audrey Gee Treasurer<br />
Robin Pearson Ex Officio<br />
Christopher Bowen<br />
Oliver Bray<br />
Mike Brewer<br />
Jay Chafetz<br />
Virginia George<br />
Peter Hass<br />
Leigh Johnson<br />
Kristen Thall Peters<br />
Ron Rives<br />
Dana Santos<br />
Stephen Steinberg<br />
Candice Stoddard<br />
CCCBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Lisa Reep: 925.288-2555 • lgreep@cccba.org<br />
CCCBA main office: 925.686-6900 • www.cccba.org<br />
Jennifer Comages<br />
Membership Coordinator<br />
Emily Day<br />
Systems Administrator and<br />
Fee Arbitration Coordinator<br />
Manny Gutierrez<br />
Administrative Assistant<br />
and Legal Interviewer<br />
EDITOR<br />
Candice Stoddard<br />
925.942-5100<br />
ASSOCIATE EDITOR<br />
Nancy J. Young<br />
925.229-2929<br />
BENCH LIAISON<br />
Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley<br />
925.646-4001<br />
BOARD LIAISON<br />
Candice Stoddard<br />
925.942-5100<br />
COURT LIAISON<br />
Kiri Torre<br />
925.957-5607<br />
ADVERTISING/DESIGN<br />
Young Design & Production<br />
925.229-2929<br />
PRINTING<br />
Excel Graphics<br />
925.552-9998<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> COSTA <strong>Lawyer</strong><br />
PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
Moya Fotografx<br />
510.847-8523<br />
Maria Navarrete<br />
LRIS Coordinator<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>bara Tillson<br />
Moderate Means Program<br />
Coordinator<br />
Michele Vasta<br />
Section Liaison / Education<br />
& Programs Coordinator<br />
EDITORIAL BOARD<br />
Kate Bekins<br />
925.284-0480<br />
Mark Ericsson<br />
925.930-6000<br />
Matthew P. Guichard<br />
Local Civil Jury Verdicts<br />
925.459-8440<br />
Nicole Mills<br />
925.351-3171<br />
Craig Nevin<br />
925.930-6016<br />
Andrea L. O’Toole<br />
925.838-2090<br />
David Pearson<br />
925.287-0051<br />
Ericka Portillo<br />
925.459-8440<br />
Andy Ross<br />
925.296-6000<br />
Kathy Schofield<br />
925.253-7890<br />
Audrey Smith, JFK Liaison<br />
925.969-3561<br />
Marlene Weinstein<br />
925.942-5100<br />
The <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> (ISSN 1063-4444) is published<br />
monthly by the <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong> (CCCBA),<br />
704 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Annual subscription of $25<br />
is included in the membership dues. Second-class postage paid<br />
at Martinez, CA. POSTMASTER: send address change to the<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong>, 704 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553.<br />
The <strong>Lawyer</strong> welcomes and encourages articles and letters from<br />
readers. Please send them to Nancy J. Young, Associate Editor,<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong>, P.O. Box 1867, Benicia, CA 94510.<br />
The CCCBA reserves the right to edit articles and letters<br />
sent in for publication. All editorial material, including editorial<br />
comment, appearing herein represents the views of the respective<br />
authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of<br />
the CCCBA or the Board of Directors. Likewise, the publication<br />
of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement<br />
of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated<br />
in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement.<br />
by Lee C. Pearce<br />
The world is a very different place than it was the last time I was president of the Family<br />
Law Section some 20 years ago. Email, cell phones and the internet have revolutionized<br />
everything from how we do legal research and check file status at the court to how we<br />
communicate with our clients, witnesses and opposing counsel, transmit and file documents<br />
and even make court appearances. In 1988, the economy was starting to boom again after<br />
the recession of the early ’80s.<br />
Not so much now. That flushing sound you hear is the loss of tens of thousands of jobs each<br />
day. But it seems that one of the constants is divorce. Popular culture to the contrary, it is<br />
my experience that sex and infidelity are not the primary causes of divorce: they are far<br />
eclipsed by conflicts over money (both too much and too little), one of life’s great stressors.<br />
In normal times, divorcing couples have conflicts over money, which are compounded by<br />
the reality that the funds that once supported one household (sometimes barely) now have<br />
to support two. In normal times, divorcing parties are scared about their kids, about<br />
having to sell the house and relocate, get a job or refresh an education, and dealing with<br />
the garden variety disruptions inevitable in divorce. But normal times, these are not. What<br />
if the house is upside down and can’t sell? What if, instead of fighting about who gets to<br />
keep the house, they are fighting about who gets stuck with it? What if there are no jobs,<br />
not only for the secondary wage earner who is hoping to go back to work after child rearing,<br />
but for the primary wage earner? Child and spousal support dry up and the cycle accelerates.<br />
You can’t impute income to somebody who can’t get a job.<br />
Sad to say, the divorce business appears to be recession-proof. That is, depending on how<br />
you define “business.” There will always be divorce clients in good times and bad. <strong>Lawyer</strong>s<br />
will always have clients. Getting paid timely? That part isn’t recession-proof. <strong>Lawyer</strong>s are<br />
having to be creative about how they serve their clients, how they bill, how they structure<br />
their offices and staff, what costs they advance, and how they run their practice. Unbundling<br />
or limited scope representation is an increasingly popular way of helping a client who can’t<br />
afford to hire your full service, but can afford to pay for a limited amount of a lawyer’s time.<br />
Increasingly, law practice efficiency is essential, as the wasteful work habits that could be<br />
absorbed in flush times become an unaffordable luxury now.<br />
This issue focuses on the practice of family law in the context of the current economic times,<br />
with articles on the practice of family law, residential appraisals, alternatives to the court,<br />
and cheap travel. We are also sponsoring a workshop aimed at solo and small firm practitioners<br />
on Reefing the Sails: Practicing Law in Stormy Financial Times on April 24 at Scott’s<br />
in Walnut Creek. All of our articles are designed not to depress you (watching the news<br />
can do that without our help), but to highlight the issues of the times as they relate to our<br />
practice, and provide practical tools for weathering the storm. u<br />
— Lee C. Pearce, a member of the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California since 1975, was a member of the first class<br />
of Certified Family Law Specialists in 1980, and has limited his practice to family law mediation and<br />
litigation since then. He has recently limited his practice to family law mediation and private judging.<br />
4 March 2009
Mark V. Murphy<br />
Annual State-of-the-Court Address<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> Country Club<br />
801 Golf Club Road - Pleasant Hill<br />
Friday, March 20, 2009<br />
Social 11:30am - Noon<br />
Luncheon and program Noon - 1:30pm<br />
Take this unique opportunity to join members of our Bench for lunch. In addition<br />
to an update by Presiding Judge Mary Ann O’Malley on the budget and other<br />
issues that may impact your practice, representatives from each Superior Court<br />
Division, including Family Law, Civil Fast Track, Criminal, Probate, Juvenile,<br />
Probate, and our new Elder Law Court will provide updates on changes in their<br />
respective departments. As always, we will seat at least one bench officer at each<br />
table and will leave time for socializing during lunch before the program begins.<br />
As of mid February, the following bench officers have confirmed their attendance:<br />
Terence Bruiniers (Criminal update); Judy Craddick (Civil Fast Track update);<br />
Joyce Cram (Elder Law Court overview); <strong>Bar</strong>ry Goode (Family Law update);<br />
Don Green (Probate update); Lois Haight (Juvenile update); Diana Becton Smith,<br />
Assistant PJ; <strong>Bar</strong>ry Baskin; Laurel Brady; Theresa Canepa; Ron Creighton;<br />
Lewis Davis; Jill Fannin; Susanne Fenstermacher; John Kennedy;<br />
Thomas Maddock; Cheryl Mills; Steve Treat<br />
Members $40 • Non-members $50<br />
1 hour general MCLE Credit<br />
Menu Options<br />
Sliced Pork Loin stuffed with apples,<br />
onions and figs with a Tawny Port glaze;<br />
Chicken Breast Florentine stuffed with spinach<br />
and mushrooms with a Spanish Paprika Veloute<br />
(vegetarian option available)<br />
To register, please phone in your Visa/MC/AmEx/Discover (925.370.2548)<br />
or send check, payable to CCCBA, to Michele Vasta, CCCBA,<br />
704 Main Street, Martinez 94553<br />
Please call Michele Vasta, 925.370.2548, for additional information.<br />
Personal Injury<br />
Referrals Requested<br />
Over 25 years experience<br />
representing injury victims.<br />
Practice dedicated solely to<br />
Personal Injury.<br />
Each client given prompt,<br />
courteous attention.<br />
Antioch and<br />
San Ramon Offices<br />
925.552.9900<br />
Why you should make<br />
referrals to CCCBA’s LRIS<br />
• Our LRIS is the only State <strong>Bar</strong> certified<br />
(certification #0018) and American <strong>Bar</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> approved lawyer referral service<br />
in our county;<br />
• LRIS has been providing quality referrals<br />
as a public service since 1978;<br />
• LRIS panel attorneys are required to meet<br />
specific experience requirements as a prerequisite<br />
to joining the service;<br />
• Every LRIS attorney is required to carry<br />
malpractice insurance;<br />
• LRIS has an experienced, friendly and<br />
knowledgeable staff to assist you.<br />
If you have any questions or would like more<br />
information, please contact the LRIS staff at<br />
925.686-6900. If you’re interested in joining<br />
the LRIS, please contact Maria Navarrete,<br />
LRIS Coordinator, at 925.370-2542 or go to<br />
“Join the LRIS” under “Member Resources”<br />
at www.cccba.org.<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 5
“Complete ADR Services”<br />
ADR PROFESSIONALS<br />
judicial profile<br />
Honorable Brian F. Haynes<br />
JUDGE MICHAEL J. BERGER<br />
JUDGE RICHARD H. BREINER<br />
HON JEANNE MARTIN BUCKLEY<br />
JUDGE VICTOR CAMPILONGO<br />
JUDGE JOHN J. GALLAGHER<br />
JUDGE ISABELLA H. GRANT<br />
JUDGE RONALD GREENBERG<br />
JUDGE INA LEVIN GYEMANT<br />
JUDGE HADDEN ROTH<br />
JUDGE VERNON F. SMITH<br />
PATRICK M. BRODERICK<br />
CLAYTON E. CLEMENT<br />
W. GREGORY ENGEL<br />
HOWARD M. GARFIELD<br />
PERRY D. LITCHFIELD<br />
GARY T. RAGGHIANTI<br />
PAMELA M. SAYAD<br />
MICHAEL D. SENNEFF<br />
ERIC STERNBERGER<br />
MATTHEW N. WHITE<br />
RICHARD S. WHITMORE<br />
W. BRUCE WOLD<br />
Look for us on the Web<br />
www.resolutionremedies.com<br />
Famous ResRem Lunches<br />
Diane Levinson-Fass, President<br />
Diane Story, Vice President<br />
Tel: (800) 778-2823<br />
Brian F. Haynes was born on October<br />
4, 1964 in Springhill, Louisiana. He<br />
received his BA from the University of<br />
Louisiana; and his JD from California<br />
Western School of Law.<br />
Political affiliation Republican.<br />
Pre-bench legal experience <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong><br />
Deputy DA (1988-2007).<br />
Judicial exPERIENCE November 16, 2007<br />
to present.<br />
Pre-bench civic and professional activities<br />
California District Attorney’s <strong>Association</strong><br />
Sexually Violent Predator Committee;<br />
Vice President, <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Deputy DA’s <strong>Association</strong>; <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> Superior Court Behavioral Health<br />
Court Steering Committee; Umpire,<br />
Clayton Valley Little League.<br />
Current civic and professional activities<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superior Court Bail<br />
Committee; <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superior<br />
Court Security Oversight Committee;<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superior Court<br />
Employee Awards Committee; 100 Club<br />
of <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong>.<br />
Recent puBLICATIONS “Behavioral Health<br />
Court,” <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong>, Volume 20,<br />
October 2007.<br />
Courtroom information Department 11,<br />
45 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg 94565; phone<br />
925.431-0811, fax 925.431-0869. Court<br />
Reporter: Patricia Malone; Clerk: Nina<br />
Salgado; Bailiff: Jimmy Green.<br />
Typical weekly SCHEDule Jury Trial: Monday<br />
(continuing), Thursday, Friday. Preliminary<br />
Hearings: Tuesday. Readiness Conference and<br />
Pretrial Conference: Wednesday.<br />
Teleconferencing Judge Haynes does not<br />
allow teleconferencing at this time.<br />
In limine MOTIONS The judge requests that<br />
these motions be submitted upon assignment<br />
of trial.<br />
Voir dire The court conducts extensive voir<br />
dire, and counsel are allowed 20 to 30<br />
minutes with the first 18 jurors, and 5 to<br />
10 minutes with additions to 18-pack.<br />
Jury instructions Instructions should be<br />
submitted prior to opening statement.<br />
Computers, audio-visual and cameras in<br />
the courtroom Judge Haynes allows this<br />
technology in his courtroom. u<br />
Did you know that the CCCBA website has<br />
40+ <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superior Court<br />
judicial profiles so far? Go to www.cccba.org<br />
— "Member Resources to Judicial Profiles."<br />
CCCBA-RR REV(2009).doc<br />
6 March 2009
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Elder Law is<br />
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The average survival rate is eight years after being<br />
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the disease itself, but from pneumonia, a urinary<br />
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Until there’s a cure, people with the disease will<br />
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If the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s,<br />
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Protect your loved ones, home and independence.<br />
n<br />
925.256.0298<br />
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1931 San Miguel Drive, Suite 220<br />
Walnut Creek, California 94596<br />
Glenn & Dawson LLP<br />
Certified Public Accountants<br />
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323 Lennon Lane, First Floor<br />
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Telephone (925) 945-7722<br />
Facsimile (925) 932-1491<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 7
Thoughts on Practicing Family Law in a<br />
Depressed Market<br />
by David M. Lederman<br />
In times of crisis some people have<br />
a tendency to shut down or shut out. It<br />
is easier to do nothing than deal with<br />
negative facts. As our clients contend with<br />
the current economic depression (and yes,<br />
I believe we are in a depression), they are<br />
acting in increasingly desperate ways. This<br />
article will explore some of those actions<br />
and methods for dealing with them.<br />
What is a depression?<br />
Understand before reading any further:<br />
I am not an economist (other than armchair).<br />
I am merely a family law attorney. Regardless,<br />
as stated above, I believe we are in<br />
an economic depression.<br />
Economists tend to distinguish recessions<br />
and depressions based on quarterly<br />
economic data. The Economist magazine<br />
defines depression as “A bad, depressingly<br />
prolonged RECESSION in economic<br />
activity. The textbook definition of a<br />
recession is two consecutive quarters of<br />
declining output. A slump is where output<br />
falls by at least 10%; a depression is an<br />
even deeper and more prolonged slump<br />
[emphasis in the original].” 1<br />
One problem with the above definition?<br />
The information comes too slow to<br />
use as an analytical tool. We often do not<br />
know the quarterly economic data until<br />
long after the quarter is over. This is not<br />
helpful. I prefer Saul Eslake’s approach.<br />
Mr. Eslake, chief economist at ANZ bank,<br />
believes “that the difference between a recession<br />
and a depression is more than simply one<br />
of size or duration. The cause of the downturn<br />
also matters. A standard recession usually<br />
follows a period of tight monetary policy, but<br />
a depression is the result of a bursting asset<br />
and credit bubble, a contraction in credit, and<br />
a decline in the general price level.” 2 Does<br />
this sound familiar? Housing prices<br />
crashing, stock market crashing, and<br />
the standard responses to a recession are<br />
not working.<br />
Why should we care?<br />
The short answer? Strategy. If you adjust<br />
your thinking to deal with a depression<br />
after the depression has started, it is too<br />
late. We should think about responses to<br />
a depression both with regard to our business<br />
strategy (not the subject of this<br />
article) and client management strategy.<br />
What is the impact of this<br />
depression on our clients?<br />
First, although divorce itself can be a<br />
depressing business, there is an increase<br />
in clients coming into our offices with an<br />
absolute sense of helplessness. My practice<br />
is in East <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong>, where the<br />
housing price collapse was the worst. It<br />
is now “normal” in my practice for divorcing<br />
parties to have a negative equity estate.<br />
For those readers who do not practice<br />
family law, this means that it is now<br />
“normal” for a family’s debts to exceed<br />
the value of all of its assets, including real<br />
estate, pensions and investments.<br />
In short, almost everything the parties<br />
have worked for throughout their lives is<br />
undone. In this economic depression, it<br />
is frequently not possible for any of the<br />
parties to live anywhere near their old<br />
marital standard of living. The marital<br />
standard of living probably contributed<br />
heavily to the parties’ current economic<br />
woes. In the past, a house could be sold<br />
and the proceeds used to give the parties<br />
seed money to start anew. Now the big<br />
question is often, “Who gets the albatross?”<br />
… or do they just walk away from<br />
the house and allow it foreclose?<br />
This is the Morton’s Fork. There is no<br />
good answer and no clear road to a happy<br />
resolution. People in these circumstances<br />
frequently cannot make decisions. They<br />
are swallowed by the psychological depression<br />
that follows from having multiple<br />
choices — none of which leads to a favorable<br />
outcome. In the safety of our offices,<br />
we can help people understand their objective<br />
choices and help them accept their<br />
predicament, but we do not live with them<br />
and cannot step in when they feel the most<br />
depressed. Worse, it seems the psychological<br />
depression is self perpetuating.<br />
Sometimes the client just breaks. In a<br />
recent case, it appeared that the parties<br />
were making progress towards an amicable<br />
dissolution. The other party, the father of<br />
three minor children, was making progress<br />
towards a joint custodial schedule (and<br />
seeing the children on an ever increasingly<br />
longer and consistent schedule). The<br />
family residence was sold and the parties<br />
were to receive some proceeds from its<br />
sale. Although the objective professionals<br />
saw progress in the parties’ circumstance,<br />
this party did not. He quit his job and<br />
simply left the country. No goodbyes — he<br />
simply walked out abandoning his children<br />
and his support obligations to his wife.<br />
The most troubling aspect of this pattern<br />
is that it is not isolated.<br />
In the past, clients complained about<br />
paying spousal support, but largely understood<br />
the concept and paid grudgingly, if<br />
not willingly. Now, more and more are<br />
talking about just giving up. Immigrants<br />
from foreign nations who worked hard to<br />
8 March 2009
come to the United States are asking,<br />
“why bother?” As in the example above,<br />
now some are deciding that it is much<br />
easier for them to start fresh and to hell<br />
with the ex-spouse and kids.<br />
We are attorneys, not psychologists.<br />
While our clients need our objective<br />
guidance and input, we cannot give them<br />
psychological assistance. We try to tether<br />
our clients to the objective reality of their<br />
circumstance – just because circumstances<br />
are bad does not mean they can be ignored.<br />
Explain their options, as you understand<br />
them, and refer them to professionals who<br />
can complete areas that exceed our experience<br />
and expertise. This helps allay their<br />
fears of the unknown and will help a<br />
majority of clients.<br />
Final words of caution<br />
Know your limitations. A family law attorney<br />
should not give tax advice or psychological<br />
counseling. We cannot fix everything<br />
and should not try, even though the<br />
temptation is there.<br />
Make referrals. If clients are exhibiting signs<br />
of depression or despondency, immediately<br />
refer them to a mental health professional<br />
(and/or if tax advice is needed, refer them<br />
to an accountant or tax attorney).<br />
Do not make your client’s decisions. Very<br />
frequently a client will ask, “What should<br />
I do?” Clearly tell your clients that you<br />
can advise and evaluate, but that you, as<br />
their attorney, do not need to live with<br />
the result of their decisions. They must<br />
take ownership of their own decisions. u<br />
— David M. Lederman is a<br />
Family Law Specialist, certified<br />
by the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California,<br />
Board of Legal Specialization.<br />
He is the principle attorney for<br />
the Law Offices of David M.<br />
Lederman (www.ledermanlaw.net), located in<br />
Antioch and Walnut Creek. David was the 2008<br />
CCCBA Family Law Section President.<br />
1<br />
http://www.economist.com/research/Economics/<br />
searchactionterms.cfm?query=depression<br />
2<br />
The Economist (print edition), Vol. 390, Number<br />
8612, January 3, 2009, page 57, Economic Focus: Diagnosing<br />
depression.<br />
The Law Offices of David M. Lederman<br />
David M. Lederman<br />
Certified Family Law Specialist<br />
State <strong>Bar</strong> Board of Legal Specialization<br />
Tom Smith<br />
Associate Attorney<br />
Practicing exclusively in all aspects of Family Law<br />
in Walnut Creek and Antioch<br />
3432 Hillcrest Avenue • Suite 100 • Antioch, California 94531<br />
309 Lennon Lane • Suite 102 • Walnut Creek, California 94598<br />
Phone 925.522-8889 • Fax 925.522-8877<br />
www.ledermanlaw.net<br />
and Mediation Center<br />
“A unique and effective style -<br />
a great mediator”<br />
Candice Stoddard<br />
Ron Mullin<br />
One Corporate Centre p 1320 Willow Pass Road, Suite 420<br />
Concord, California 94520<br />
Telephone (925) 798-3413 p Facsimile (925) 798-3118<br />
Email ronald@mullinlaw.com<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 9
y Steve Lederer<br />
Current<br />
Market<br />
Environment<br />
Appraisals<br />
and<br />
Challenges<br />
in the<br />
Every month there is new data<br />
published about median home prices<br />
throughout California and changes in sales<br />
activity. While this data provides some<br />
general overview, it isn’t much help for<br />
the appraiser who is working on, for<br />
example, a particu lar divorce case. The<br />
appraiser’s concerns are centered on the<br />
market conditions that are affecting the<br />
subject property.<br />
The Bay Area has hundreds of micro<br />
markets for residential property and all<br />
of their dynamics are represented by different<br />
pockets in <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong>.<br />
Every single appraisal assignment requires<br />
a fresh analysis of supply, demand and<br />
absorption rates. While there may not be<br />
any easy appraisals right now, there are<br />
some new exciting new challenges for the<br />
conscientious professional.<br />
Appraising homes in neighborhoods<br />
impacted by bank-owned properties and<br />
short-sale inventory is one of the challenges.<br />
We ask ourselves, “Should sales of<br />
bank-owned properties be used as comparables?<br />
Are there parallel markets in<br />
some communities — one market for<br />
owner-occupied homes and one for vacant<br />
homes that are in foreclosure? These are<br />
valid questions.<br />
The short answer is found in the definition<br />
of market value. Market value, most<br />
commonly used for residential property,<br />
is defined as the value which is exemplified<br />
by activity between “typically motivated<br />
sellers and typically motivated buyers.”<br />
If the appraiser identifies the typically<br />
motivated seller in a neighborhood as<br />
REO managers who are liquidating inventory,<br />
then these sales are the ones that<br />
define the market for that neighborhood,<br />
and those comps are fair game for the<br />
appraiser.<br />
If, however, there are only a few foreclosures<br />
in the neighborhood, then the<br />
appraiser needs to conduct additional<br />
research to see if these comparable sales<br />
are representative of a typical transaction,<br />
with prices that are unaffected by undue<br />
stimulus. Some banks will sell foreclosed<br />
homes “as is” with uncorrected maintenance<br />
items. Others will make the effort<br />
to put a foreclosed home into “average<br />
marketable condition,” with new flooring<br />
or new paint or a new front lawn. Some<br />
bank-owned property is indistinguishable,<br />
physically, from owner-occupied property,<br />
but the sale price for these properties can<br />
be impacted by business decisions made<br />
by the bank. Because sales activity in<br />
many neighborhoods is very slow right<br />
now, comparable sales are often scarce and<br />
this compounds the challenge. Appraisers<br />
sometimes feel they have no choice when<br />
selecting their comparable sales.<br />
Another challenge for the appraiser is<br />
to identify neighborhoods where foreclosures<br />
are just starting to creep into the<br />
inventory. The astute appraiser can spot<br />
this trend by checking the percentage of<br />
closed and pending sales that are financially<br />
distressed, and comparing that to<br />
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10 March 2009
the percentage of active listings that are<br />
financially distressed. If the active listings<br />
have a significantly higher percentage of<br />
foreclosures, then there will be downward<br />
price pressure in that neighborhood looking<br />
forward.<br />
An appraiser must be able to effectively<br />
scan the market data for bank-owned<br />
properties and short-sales. Fortunately,<br />
our local Multiple Listing Service (the data<br />
base used by Realtors and residential<br />
appraisers) has search parameters, making<br />
this a manageable but time-consuming<br />
task for those who are willing to master<br />
its intricacies.<br />
Another huge challenge for residential<br />
appraisers is the appraisal “update.” Because<br />
divorce cases can drag on for several<br />
months, the original opinion of value can<br />
be invalid by the time the case is ready to<br />
settle. The savvy attorney realizes that the<br />
Uniform Standards of Professional<br />
Appraisal Practice defines the appraisal<br />
update as a new, second appraisal. The<br />
experienced appraiser knows that he should<br />
research, analyze, and utilize a new set of<br />
recent comparables if they are available. It<br />
is surprising how quickly the dynamics of<br />
supply and demand can alter the attitudes<br />
and expectations of buyers and sellers,<br />
even in the best of neighborhoods.<br />
Finally, for some perspective, consider<br />
that in 1989 residential real estate values<br />
in California started a decline that lasted<br />
for several years, bottoming out after 1995.<br />
When buyers suddenly woke up one day<br />
and started snatching up homes again,<br />
prices rebounded very quickly. The loss in<br />
value evaporated and prices rose steadily<br />
until our current crisis. It is inevitable that<br />
this will happen again, to some degree. It<br />
will happen when buyers achieve a comfort<br />
level with their personal financial status<br />
and the direction of the overall economy.<br />
Who will be the first to recognize the<br />
rebound when it starts to happen? u<br />
— Steve Lederer, SRA, appraises residential<br />
property in <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> and Alameda<br />
<strong>County</strong> for mortgage transactions, family law<br />
matters, litigation support, trust valuation,<br />
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<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 11
Question man<br />
How do you think the same-sex marriage<br />
issue will eventually be resolved?<br />
A majority of California voters<br />
will eventually vote for marriage<br />
equality. This will occur relatively<br />
soon, when older more<br />
conservative voters are replaced<br />
by younger voters.<br />
Robert Seeds<br />
Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally LLP<br />
It’s a rights issue and eventually those<br />
who feel that their love is more sacred<br />
than another’s will come around.<br />
Cheryl Fabio<br />
JFK Law Student<br />
Gays and lesbians will be every bit<br />
as miserable as we heterosexuals.<br />
Joshua Genser<br />
Genser & Watkins, LLP<br />
With education, compassion, and respect.<br />
Joseph M. Nykodym<br />
Ryan & Lifter<br />
There is no doubt that the<br />
agents of intolerance will<br />
eventually lose and our better<br />
angels will triumph. The<br />
inauguration of our new<br />
President proved that.<br />
Jody Yudien<br />
Yudien & Associates<br />
Your question presupposes that the issue<br />
will eventually resolve. Ask the Middle<br />
East the same question. These<br />
factions may never be able to<br />
resolve the issue.<br />
A G Ashe<br />
Law Office of Anthony Guy Ashe<br />
My hope is that religious/spiritual<br />
marriage will be separated from staterecognized<br />
unions. I believe the solution<br />
will be to allow couples to register a<br />
civil union with the state, which confers<br />
all the rights and benefits of current<br />
“marriage” and allows weddings and<br />
religious marriage ceremonies to be conducted<br />
in accordance with personal beliefs.<br />
These marriages would confer no staterecognized<br />
benefits.<br />
Leah Presley<br />
Law Office of Leah Presley<br />
One would hope that “samesexism”<br />
will go the way of<br />
racism. It may be a slow and<br />
painful journey, but the end<br />
result will be that marriage<br />
is allowed and honored —<br />
both legally and by most of society<br />
— between any two humans of legally<br />
consenting age who are not related by a<br />
certain level of consanguinity. “Legal<br />
unions” instead of marriage will go the<br />
way of separate-but-equal drinking<br />
fountains.<br />
Stuart C. Gilliam<br />
Bennett, Samuelsen, Reynolds & Allard<br />
Even if the state and federal supreme courts<br />
uphold California’s and other states’ bans<br />
now, legislation and/or future court decisions<br />
will permit same-sex marriage in<br />
10, 100, 1,000 years or more.<br />
Even if it takes a million years,<br />
it will “eventually” happen.<br />
Kurtiss Jacobs<br />
Solo, Concord<br />
I hope that all unions will be<br />
civil unions, which can be<br />
“blessed” by a church of choice<br />
or not. This allows all to enjoy<br />
equal rights.<br />
Bonnie Johnson<br />
Law Office of Bonnie L. Johnson<br />
In about 20 years, we will be able to smoke<br />
legal marijuana at legally recognized gay<br />
marriages.<br />
David L. Roth<br />
Real Estate Law Offices of David L. Roth<br />
It will be resolved the same day the abortion<br />
issue is finally resolved and the<br />
Israeli-Palestinian issue is finally resolved.<br />
Never!! They are basically religious issues<br />
and true believers never settle/compromise<br />
their beliefs. Each side will always<br />
file another proposition to overrule the<br />
last proposition.<br />
Patrick E. Clancy<br />
Clancy Litigation Group<br />
Probably in court. Seriously,<br />
this is a matter in which the<br />
Cal Supremes will overturn<br />
an invalid “mandate” of the<br />
people and this will go up<br />
before the U.S. Supreme<br />
Court to be decided on a constitutional<br />
level. If treated as a civil rights issue,<br />
same-sex marriage will be restored. If<br />
treated as a same-sex issue, it won’t. And<br />
that is a fact.<br />
Gary Cornwall<br />
Law Offices of Gary Cornwall<br />
12 March 2009
Same-sex marriage will<br />
become legally recognized,<br />
and will be accepted, to<br />
probably the same degree<br />
as interracial marriage is<br />
now…eventually. Sooner<br />
rather than later, I would hope!<br />
Bill Ulrich<br />
Solo, Antioch<br />
I watched <strong>Bar</strong>ak Obama inaugurated as<br />
President, something I could not have<br />
imagined in the 1960s, when I was just<br />
another student activist at Cal agitating<br />
that all adults should have the right to<br />
vote. I believe that at some time in the<br />
future, my country will recognize the civil<br />
rights of gay people. At some time after<br />
that, they will watch with pride when a<br />
gay president is inaugurated, and pundits<br />
comment how wonderful it is that we<br />
have progressed so far in so little time.<br />
Jerome Fishkin<br />
Fishkin & Slatter, LLP<br />
In my lifetime, yes in some quarters,<br />
no in others — and a declining<br />
population overall.<br />
Wayne V.R. Smith<br />
Solo, Martinez<br />
We live in a country that supposedly<br />
promotes “equal rights for all,” and we<br />
just elected a President that promises the<br />
reality of such. Marriage equality will not<br />
go away. The issue will be resolved, state<br />
by state, with the Supreme Court of<br />
California ultimately ruling that Proposition<br />
8 is unconstitutional, and will uphold<br />
their previous ruling that gays and lesbians<br />
have a fundamental right to marry<br />
the person of their choice and that gender<br />
restrictions violate the state Constitution’s<br />
equal protection guarantee.<br />
Sally Elkington<br />
Elkington Law Office<br />
I think the same sex-marriage<br />
issue will be resolved by time.<br />
It you talk to most young<br />
people, it just isn’t a big deal<br />
to them. In states like Massachusetts<br />
and Connecticut,<br />
they are finding that having married gay<br />
couples does not destroy the institution<br />
or create other threatened doomsday<br />
scenarios. More and more people will see<br />
it more as a civil rights issue, rather than<br />
a religious or social issue. In time it will<br />
not be an issue at all.<br />
Brandt Andersson<br />
Law Offices of Andersson & Andersson PC<br />
It is my hope that we will<br />
eventually see a nationwide<br />
Uniform Family Law Act that<br />
will necessarily be gender<br />
neutral. Reproductive science<br />
and the current adoption laws<br />
and practices seem to require it. Separation<br />
of church and state must be acknowledged,<br />
so a distinction between marriage and civil<br />
marriage will need to be drawn. Hopefully,<br />
some attention will be paid to the notion<br />
that pre-marital education on the legal<br />
and psychological commitment marriage<br />
represents will cause a reduction in the<br />
divorce rates and the social chaos that<br />
generally ensues.<br />
John E. Manoogian<br />
Law Offices of John E. Manoogian<br />
Like heterosexual marriages...<br />
in divorce.<br />
Merritt Weisinger<br />
Walnut Creek Family Law Center<br />
Look for next month’s answers<br />
to the Question Man’s, “Where<br />
does your discretionary spending<br />
go these days?”<br />
Attorney Counseling Evenings<br />
The CCCBA offers ACE Nights in various<br />
subject matters, such as family, landlord/<br />
tenant and immigration law. The programs<br />
are only two hours in length. They have been<br />
an invaluable service to the community — and<br />
the feedback received has been fantastic!<br />
If you are interested in volunteering for an<br />
upcoming ACE event, please contact<br />
CCCBA’s Michele Vasta at 925.370-2548<br />
or mvasta@cccba.org.<br />
Arlene Segal<br />
Law Offices of Arlene Segal<br />
Litigation - Mediation<br />
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100 Pringle Avenue, Suite 780 • Walnut Creek, CA 94596<br />
telephone (925) 937-4224 • fax (925) 937-4273<br />
note new<br />
Address!<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 13
The Bus and the Taxi<br />
by Judge <strong>Bar</strong>ry Goode<br />
and Judge Pro Tem Lee C. Pearce<br />
Article 6, Section 21 of the California<br />
Constitution allows litigants to<br />
select a private judge. Once the Presiding<br />
Judge approves the appointment, the<br />
private judge has all of the power and is<br />
subject to all of the rules as an appointed<br />
judge for that case only.<br />
At December’s Holiday Party, we had<br />
a conversation regarding differences in<br />
the way we as judges (one public, one<br />
private) deliver access and resolution in<br />
family law cases. Much as a bus and a taxi<br />
can take you to the same place, the goal<br />
is to get you to your destination, whether<br />
you use the public courts (the bus) or opt<br />
for private judging (the taxi). Each has its<br />
advantages and disadvantages. Here are<br />
some things you might consider as you<br />
weigh your options.<br />
Selection<br />
The bus: You get the bus that is assigned<br />
to service your route. When a petition is<br />
filed, a bench officer is assigned based on<br />
the file number given to the case. Either<br />
side may file a CCP 170.6 challenge. But<br />
then the case is simply reassigned by the<br />
supervising judge — again, with no say<br />
from the parties. If a family has two cases<br />
(e.g. a domestic violence and a dissolution<br />
action), the cases are likely to be consolidated<br />
at some point, with the more comprehensive<br />
case becoming the master case,<br />
and the judge assigned to the master case<br />
becoming the all-purpose judge.<br />
The taxi: Of course, since agreement is<br />
required to appoint a private judge, you<br />
get to pick your private judge (i.e. your taxi<br />
driver). That means you can tailor the selection<br />
to the expertise of the judge and the<br />
needs of a case rather than having to rely<br />
on a one-time challenge to try to get to the<br />
best judge for your case. But unless there<br />
is agreement, you must ride the bus.<br />
Cost<br />
The bus: This fare is the lowest in town.<br />
Of course there are filing fees. But if a<br />
litigant is penurious, s/he can seek a fee<br />
waiver. The hidden cost is the time it takes<br />
to have a matter decided — and therefore<br />
the attorney fees that accrue while the<br />
case is pending. If a case is crisply litigated,<br />
that cost can be minimized. If there are<br />
complex, time-consuming issues, it may<br />
be difficult to get enough continuous<br />
calendar time in the public courthouse to<br />
minimize those fees.<br />
The taxi: Of course, your client pays for<br />
a private judge’s time. In that way, the<br />
taxi fare is higher than the bus fare. It<br />
may not make much economic sense if<br />
the marital estate is modest, unless there<br />
are other considerations, such as the need<br />
for immediate hearings. However, the taxi<br />
may not be more expensive than the bus<br />
if you factor in the efficiency, which can<br />
save significant amounts of attorney time<br />
and, hence, expense. And in a complex<br />
case, private judging is, in the end, usually<br />
less expensive than proceeding in the<br />
public courts. Pro tem judge Pearce has<br />
found that in a complex case, private<br />
judging may prove to be less expensive<br />
than proceeding in the public courts.<br />
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Immediacy of contact with the court<br />
The bus: The bus has to travel a route;<br />
emergency stops are unusual. But here<br />
the metaphor breaks down. In a pinch,<br />
you can request an order shortening time<br />
and ex parte relief. Still, there is no guarantee<br />
that you can have your case heard<br />
ahead of all the others who are waiting.<br />
Bench officers generally try to shorten<br />
time only when there appears to be a<br />
genuine need for prompt adjudication.<br />
Your client’s sense of urgency may not<br />
rise to the level of “real need” in the bench<br />
officer’s mind.<br />
The taxi: In private judging, you can pick<br />
up the phone and get your taxi immediately<br />
for emergency conference calls or hearings.<br />
You are less likely to require an Order<br />
Shortening Time because you can get a<br />
hearing on the merits quickly.<br />
Short causes<br />
The bus: With the bus, you stand on line.<br />
First you stand on line to get a date for<br />
your court hearing. Then on the day of<br />
the hearing, you wait to have your case<br />
called. At present, the first wait is not<br />
much more than the time required by law<br />
to notice a hearing. (Most departments are<br />
setting short cause hearings five or six weeks<br />
out.) And in most courtrooms you can<br />
move up on the calendar the day of your<br />
appearance if both sides arrive promptly<br />
and check in with the bailiff. However, if<br />
your “20 minute” matter is likely to take<br />
more than that, there is a good chance<br />
you will slip to the end of the calendar.<br />
The taxi: With the taxi, you aren’t waiting<br />
for your stop. You go directly to the destination.<br />
In private judging, “short cause”<br />
is a relative term. If you only need 20<br />
minutes, you only pay for the actual hearing<br />
time plus time to read the pleadings<br />
and render a decision, not the whole<br />
morning or afternoon. If you need more<br />
time, you can get that with no specific<br />
time limitation and no restriction on live<br />
testimony. The date is set as soon as<br />
possible considering both sides’ calendars.<br />
You are not waiting weeks or months for<br />
your hearing.<br />
Long causes and trials<br />
The bus: Each department hears long cause<br />
matters every other week. But there are<br />
some significant limitations. The shorter<br />
the trial or hearing, the sooner you are<br />
likely to be heard. If you need more than<br />
a day (or two), you are likely to be given<br />
a date weeks or months in the future. If<br />
you need more than a few days, you may<br />
be referred out to a civil department. Do<br />
not make the mistake of underestimating<br />
the length of the hearing so you can get<br />
an earlier date, for you pay the price on<br />
the back end. If your trial runs over your<br />
estimate, you may have to get on line<br />
again to get additional trial days. Having<br />
trial over several days, weeks apart, is<br />
inefficient and expensive.<br />
The taxi: In private judging, the issues<br />
regarding long causes are much the same<br />
as short causes. The taxi takes you directly<br />
to your hearing, which is heard in a single<br />
block of time, only stopping for a settlement<br />
conference if needed. Most cases don’t<br />
need lengthy trials. If your case is one of<br />
the few that need more than one trial day,<br />
no matter how long the journey, you get<br />
one taxi and one trip. There are not multiple<br />
transfers from bus to bus or waits for<br />
another bus to arrive (i.e. a trial over a series<br />
of dates, sometimes months apart). This<br />
has a significant impact on the cost of trial<br />
and time required to prepare.<br />
Case management and<br />
access to the court<br />
The bus: The bus driver/bench officer is<br />
usually quite willing to talk to you about<br />
how the ride is going to be managed. If<br />
there are issues that are likely to be<br />
dispositive or deadlines that might help,<br />
the judge is likely to be interested. The<br />
problem is that you have to stand on line<br />
to get to have that conversation. But<br />
then again, not everyone seems eager to<br />
be the first on line. Some clients (or<br />
lawyers) are quite willing to wait for their<br />
turn to ride.<br />
The taxi: With the taxi, you get to talk<br />
to the driver, find out about alternative<br />
destinations and have multiple pick-up<br />
and drop-off dates, as dictated by the<br />
needs of the case. In cases that need a<br />
great deal of case management (otherwise<br />
known as judicial hand holding), a private<br />
judge has more time to manage a difficult<br />
case, whether the source of the difficulty<br />
is the legal issue, factual complexity, difficult<br />
or unrealistic clients or (gasp!) an<br />
uncooperative counsel.<br />
Continuity<br />
The bus: If your case is assigned to a commissioner,<br />
you are likely to have that bench<br />
officer for the duration of your case. If<br />
your case is assigned to a judge, you are<br />
subject to the fact that most family law<br />
assignments are two or three years. u<br />
Appeals<br />
Criminal & Civil<br />
Law Office of Ian R. Greensides<br />
2121 North California Blvd., Suite 290<br />
Walnut Creek, California 94596<br />
(925) 313-8703<br />
www.greensideslaw.com<br />
925.790-2600 • info@amllp.com • www.amllp.com<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 15
WE’RE HONORED TO WELCOME<br />
Hon.<br />
Bonnie Sabraw<br />
(Ret.)<br />
Retired from the<br />
Alameda <strong>County</strong> Superior Court<br />
Business Products Liability<br />
Employment HOA Issues<br />
Personal Injury Env./Toxic Torts<br />
Probate Construction<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> Locations Available!<br />
Dorene Kanoh, VP<br />
50 Fremont St., Ste. 2110<br />
San Francisco, CA 94105<br />
Areas of Specialization<br />
Hon.<br />
Douglas Swager<br />
(Ret.)<br />
Retired from the Court of Appeal,<br />
First Appellate District, Division One<br />
Business<br />
Real Estate<br />
Personal Injury Land Use<br />
Employment Appellate Matters<br />
Insurance<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> Locations Available!<br />
tel 415.772.0900<br />
fax 415.772.0960<br />
www.adrservices.org<br />
Business Escrow Services at<br />
Mechanics Bank.<br />
Mechanics Bank Business Escrow Services<br />
Department offers a wide range of escrow<br />
services for attorneys. We are the experienced,<br />
neutral third party you need to manage your<br />
client’s business transactions in accordance<br />
with the terms of the escrow agreement. Call<br />
us today to learn how we can help you with:<br />
The taxi: Private judge assignments can<br />
be crafted so that modifications and other<br />
motions return to the private judge. This<br />
ensures that there is consistency in rulings,<br />
and you don’t have to educate the judge<br />
on what happened before. Of course, if<br />
don’t like the rulings, you don’t have the<br />
luxury of waiting until your assigned judge<br />
rotates out.<br />
Same Rules<br />
Both the bus and the taxi are bound by<br />
the same evidence code, statutory and<br />
case law, appellate rights and rules of<br />
court, although it is easier to opt out of<br />
specific rules and procedures with the<br />
taxi.<br />
Private judges are bound by the same<br />
rules as public ones. They must disclose<br />
conflicts, comply with the canons of judicial<br />
ethics, and follow the law.<br />
“Private” doesn’t mean “secret.” Case<br />
files are kept at the courthouse, even if a<br />
case is assigned to a private judge for<br />
adjudication. They are open to the public<br />
and can only be sealed under the same<br />
circumstances that a public judge could<br />
seal all or a portion of a file. Hearings<br />
that would be open to the public at the<br />
courthouse must be open if tried before<br />
a private judge. While there are rarely<br />
requests from the public to attend private<br />
judge proceedings, cases involving<br />
public figures, or other issues of general<br />
interest must be held open if there is a<br />
request to attend. And, of course, if a<br />
record is preserved, private judge rulings<br />
are fully appealable.<br />
Walnut Creek 925.210.8984<br />
Oakland 510.251.3808<br />
San Francisco 415.249.0348<br />
Sacramento 916.648.2672<br />
www.mechanicsbank.com<br />
MEMBER FDIC<br />
Business<br />
Banking<br />
Corporate<br />
Banking<br />
Wealth<br />
Management<br />
Personal<br />
Banking<br />
• Stock Transfers and Merger Acquisitions<br />
• Subscription Offerings<br />
• Professional Practice Sales<br />
• Holding Escrows<br />
• Bulk Sales<br />
• Depository for 1031 Exchanges<br />
• <strong>Contra</strong>ctor Retention/Construction <strong>Contra</strong>ct<br />
• Controlled Disbursement Accounts<br />
Summary<br />
Our courts serve thousands of people a<br />
year; from the poorest to the richest<br />
families in our county. For the vast majority<br />
of cases, the public court system<br />
provides access to justice at reasonable<br />
cost and with reasonable dispatch. But<br />
the system is not perfect. In some cases,<br />
it may be preferable to seek justice from<br />
a private judge. In those cases, it may be<br />
worth the price (and indeed, may save<br />
money) to take the taxi rather than ride<br />
the bus. u<br />
MEC 2719 <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> Mag 4.6875x4.5625_v4.indd 1<br />
7/31/08 7:01:04 PM<br />
16 March 2009
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<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 17
The Vacation Maven<br />
Everyone’s talking about tough economic times and planning “staycations” rather than<br />
vacations… but don’t despair. There are lots of options somewhere between staying<br />
at home and spending a month in Paris. Besides, what we do as family lawyers is so<br />
stressful that we owe it to ourselves, our families, and yes, our clients, to periodically<br />
rest, relax, and regroup. So here are some budget-conscious alternatives:<br />
The Anderson Valley and Mendocino Coast<br />
Wander up to Mendocino via the Anderson<br />
Valley. Not only can you get good<br />
midweek and off season deals this time of<br />
year, but the trip itself is half the fun. Stop<br />
in Booneville for lunch at the Booneville<br />
Inn. Sample wine at the various vineyards<br />
along the way, treat yourself to champagne<br />
at Roderer Estates [www.roedererestate.<br />
com]. (Hint: the same vintage tastes much<br />
better in magnums. Instead of buying<br />
two standard bottles, buy a magnum<br />
— they’ll give you a champagne stopper<br />
— and enjoy the difference in depth of<br />
flavor). If so inclined, take the dog — you’ll<br />
save on kennel or pet sitting fees and have<br />
your companion for the trip. Stanford Inn<br />
in Mendocino [www.stanfordinn.com] is<br />
high on the scale of dog-friendly accommodations<br />
and extremely comfortable.<br />
Food is vegan (though they will make you<br />
eggs and traditional breakfast on request)<br />
and delicious. Try the house specials —<br />
they’re wonderful! You can even take Fido<br />
to meals with you if you eat in the lounge<br />
just outside the restaurant. And if you<br />
can’t stomach a vegan dinner, there’s<br />
something wrong with you if you can’t<br />
find a great restaurant in Mendocino. Take<br />
Fido to splash in the surf at a nearby beach.<br />
Stroll through the art galleries by day or<br />
relax in the full size indoor pool surrounded<br />
by lush tropical plants, or take the chill<br />
off in the indoor spa, listening to the rain<br />
pounding on the roof — heavenly.<br />
Monterey Dunes<br />
Rent a house at Monterey Dunes. You can’t<br />
take the dog, but the setting is spectacular.<br />
The mile-long stretch of beach is great for<br />
walking or flying kites. The units are laid<br />
out so that they are one house deep, so<br />
everyone has an ocean front view. It’s a<br />
short drive into Monterey for the wharf,<br />
or Carmel for the art galleries and ambience.<br />
Pick up some freshly caught fish and<br />
grill it back at the Dunes. Watch the sun<br />
go down from your deck. Build a driftwood<br />
bonfire on the beach at night. Curl up in<br />
front of a roaring fire and listen to the surf<br />
pound. One of the best trips I ever had to<br />
Monterey Dunes was a stormy, blustery<br />
week in January. Stock up on provisions<br />
and all those books you intend to read<br />
someday, and relax in front of the fire while<br />
listening to the sea crash beyond the Dune<br />
[www.montereydunes.com/index.htm].<br />
Ski Season <strong>Bar</strong>gains<br />
Most of the ski resorts are hurting, so you<br />
can pick up good bargains in rentals, lift<br />
tickets and extras. Check out liftopia.com,<br />
getskitickets.com, discountlifttickets.com<br />
or skicoupons.com for bargains.<br />
Napa Valley<br />
People come from all over the world to<br />
see the Napa Valley for crying out loud.<br />
Find a B&B set in a vineyard. The Napa<br />
Valley Lodge has rooms with fireplaces<br />
overlooking the vineyard. Trail around<br />
Yountville and St. Helena. Downtown<br />
Napa has been recently refurbished and<br />
is crawling with good restaurants.<br />
Take a Nature Expedition<br />
If you’re flush, green and adventurous,<br />
take a Lindblad Expedition to the Galapagos.<br />
Lindblad was the pioneer of ecotravel<br />
and specializes in small ships with<br />
lots of naturalists, photographers and other<br />
experts on board. It recently partnered<br />
with National Geographic, so there are<br />
both Lindblad and National Geographic<br />
experts on board. Your fellow passengers<br />
will be a small (60–100) self-selecting<br />
group of educated, interesting people, who<br />
share your interest in wildlife, conservation,<br />
and good conversation. As you read this,<br />
I’ll be on the Lindblad/National Geographic<br />
Sea Lion in Baja California communing<br />
with grey whales, humpback<br />
whales, and lush wildlife, getting up close<br />
and personal to them in a zodiac, or even<br />
a kayak. Go to www.expeditions.com.<br />
So get going! It’s a big world out there.<br />
We happen to live in one of the most<br />
attractive parts of it, and it’s just waiting<br />
to be explored in more depth. u<br />
— M. Sue Talia is an AV rated Family Law<br />
Specialist, certified by the Board of Specialization<br />
of the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California. She has<br />
practiced in <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> since 1977,<br />
focusing on complex family law litigation.<br />
18 March 2009
REEFING THE SAILS<br />
Practicing Law Profitably in Stormy Financial Times<br />
As the financial crisis hits Main Street, more and more lawyers are finding themselves struggling to get and<br />
retain clients, collect fees, and keep their own financial houses in order. Hard times can’t hit our clients without<br />
affecting us. Big firms are failing, small firms are struggling, and everyone is worrying about what will be the next<br />
shoe to drop. Don’t wait. It is important to be proactive in streamlining and adapting our practices to changing times.<br />
On April 24, 2009, the Family Law Section will present an expanded program aimed at solo and<br />
small firm practitioners on the challenges presented by these financial times. Among the topics to be covered are:<br />
Coping with the 21 st Century law practice reality • Focus on new and different legal issues<br />
Client recruitment and retention • Billing and collection strategies<br />
How NOT to do it: Wasteful office practices; The Client from Hell; Longer hours/poorer results<br />
Maximizing efficiency of office, equipment and staff • Controlling costs advanced<br />
Taming the Dreaded A/R Report • Marketing<br />
Each attendee will be asked to bring a client/account receivable list (there will be no show and tell —<br />
this is just for your personal reference purposes)<br />
The final segment will be an opportunity for a round table discussion and Q & A,<br />
so people can share their own cost-saving tips with colleagues.<br />
When April 24, 2009<br />
Time 1:30 – 4:15 p.m.<br />
Where Location to be determined<br />
Presenter M. Sue Talia<br />
MCLE Credit 2.5 hours<br />
Mediation Solutions<br />
— Wanted —<br />
Conservatorships<br />
Specializing in<br />
Tax, Probate, Wills, Trust & Business<br />
LL.M Taxation • Over 25 years legal experience<br />
“AV” rated attorney with mediation training<br />
Experienced mediator since 1992<br />
Nancy A. Gibbons<br />
925.280-1990<br />
naglawfirm@aol.com<br />
think<br />
Matt Toth<br />
as in<br />
Pedder, Hesseltine,<br />
Walker & Toth, LLP<br />
oldest partnership in <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
(52 years)<br />
p 925.283-6816 • f 925.283-3683<br />
3445 Golden Gate Way, P.O. Box 479<br />
Lafayette, CA 94549-0479<br />
AV Martindale-Hubbell<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 19
ethics corner<br />
by Carol M. Langford<br />
It is no surprise to lawyers practicing in<br />
California to hear that we are in a severe<br />
recession that will likely plague our state<br />
at least through this year. The good news<br />
is that if you are a medium, small or solo<br />
law firm, you have the best chance of<br />
surviving this financial downturn. That<br />
is because unlike a large ship of a firm<br />
that takes months to turn around, a<br />
smaller firm can more easily set a new and<br />
more efficient course.<br />
One way to really cut costs but still<br />
turn out a superior work product is to<br />
make use of contract attorneys. If you<br />
have hesitated to do this in the past fearing<br />
that a contract lawyer might not do<br />
as good a job as an associate, or that it<br />
might make your firm look less like a law<br />
firm and more like a law mill, now is the<br />
time to rethink that issue. First, there are<br />
hundreds of graduates from excellent law<br />
schools looking for work. Second, they<br />
are willing to work cheaply (I recently<br />
met a Vanderbilt law graduate accepting<br />
a contract job for $25 an hour). Third, it<br />
will not make your firm look bad; when<br />
a client steps into your doors, s/he will<br />
Please send your ethics questions to:<br />
Carol Langford<br />
100 Pringle Avenue, Suite 570<br />
Walnut Creek CA 94596<br />
langford@usfca.edu<br />
voicemail: 925-938-3870<br />
have no idea that the lawyer sitting in the<br />
conference room reviewing documents is<br />
not a full-time employee. Last, but certainly<br />
not least, it can save the client money to<br />
have a contract lawyer work on the project,<br />
thus allowing you to offer a better price<br />
for the job.<br />
There are several ethics issues that arise<br />
from hiring contract lawyers to work for<br />
you. Rule of Professional Conduct 2-200<br />
regarding division of fees with lawyers is<br />
applicable when an outside lawyer who<br />
is not an employee is paid a portion of the<br />
fee paid by the client to the attorney for<br />
services. However, in Ethics Opinion<br />
1994-138, the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California<br />
Standing Committee on Professional<br />
Responsibility and Conduct found that<br />
the provisions of Rule 2-200 are not<br />
applicable where 1) the amount paid to<br />
the outside lawyer by the attorney is<br />
compensation for work performed and<br />
must be paid whether or not the attorney<br />
is paid by the client; 2) the amount paid<br />
by the attorney to the outside lawyer is<br />
neither negotiated nor based on fees that<br />
have been paid to the attorney by the<br />
client; and 3) the outside lawyer does not<br />
receive a percentage fee.<br />
The key here is that the lawyer must<br />
pay the contract attorney whether or not<br />
s/he is paid, thus untying the money paid<br />
to the contract attorney to the fee paid<br />
by the client to the lawyer. Rule 2-200<br />
also does not apply whether the contract<br />
attorney is paid on a flat-fee basis or<br />
whether s/he is paid, for example, $50 an<br />
hour but is billed out at $100 an hour.<br />
The same would also be true where the<br />
contract attorney is paid $100 an hour<br />
and billed out at $100 an hour to the<br />
client, more like a cost.<br />
Even better, there is no obligation to<br />
reveal to the client that you are only paying<br />
the contract lawyer $50 an hour, even<br />
though you are billing them out at $100.<br />
That is because the internal compensation<br />
arrangements of a firm are not considered<br />
the business of the client. However, the<br />
client must know (put it in the fee agreement)<br />
that there may be contract lawyers<br />
working on their project. Clients do not<br />
care who works on their project as long<br />
as they know that you, the lawyer they<br />
hired, will make important court appearances<br />
and supervise the contract lawyer,<br />
and that you will have competent people<br />
working on the project. It saves the client<br />
money. One more thing. You should not<br />
charge a client $650 an hour for a contract<br />
lawyer just out of school. Fees overall must<br />
be reasonable.<br />
Try Craigslist to find job seekers, call a<br />
local law school, ask a friend. As an adjunct<br />
professor at U.C. Hastings, I can tell you<br />
that everyone is looking for a job. Good<br />
luck, and happy St. Patrick’s day! u<br />
— Carol M. Langford is a lawyer in Walnut<br />
Creek specializing in providing advice and<br />
representation in ethics and State <strong>Bar</strong> matters.<br />
She is an adjunct professor of law at U.C.<br />
Hastings School of Law and a former Chair<br />
of the California State <strong>Bar</strong> ethics committee.<br />
20 March 2009
Do it for<br />
the Kids!<br />
The <strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
is looking for energetic<br />
and enthusiastic<br />
volunteers for the<br />
Education<br />
Outreach<br />
Program<br />
To strengthen our pledge<br />
of providing valuable lawrelated<br />
education to local<br />
high school and middle<br />
school students, attorneys<br />
are needed to volunteer<br />
with EOP throughout the<br />
county. The time commitment<br />
is minimal, but the<br />
rewards for participation<br />
are significant for both<br />
you and our youth!<br />
Young Design<br />
&<br />
Production<br />
D E S I G N<br />
W R I T I N G<br />
E D I T I N G<br />
Young Design & Production<br />
is the designer for the <strong>Contra</strong><br />
<strong>Costa</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
Specializing in<br />
law firm brochures<br />
and newsletters<br />
Nancy Young<br />
Owner<br />
P.O. Box 1867 Benicia, CA 94510<br />
925.229.2929 or 707.747-5775<br />
email: young-design@prodigy.net<br />
To learn more about<br />
this exciting program,<br />
please contact:<br />
Michele Vasta<br />
925.370-2548<br />
www.cccba.org<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 21
advertisers’ index<br />
ADR Services, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16<br />
Maureen E. Ahlf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14<br />
Roger F. Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11<br />
Armanino McKenna LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . .15<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>r & <strong>Bar</strong>r Attorneys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23<br />
Diablo Valley Reporting Services . . . . . . .24<br />
Nancy Gibbons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19<br />
Glenn & Dawson LLP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7<br />
JAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21<br />
Landmark Valuation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7<br />
Law Office of Ian R. Greensides . . . . . . . .15<br />
Law Offices of Arlene Segal . . . . . . . . . . .13<br />
Law Offices of David M. Lederman . . . . . . .9<br />
Law Offices of Douglas A. Prutton . . . . . .14<br />
Law Offices of Magany Abbass. . . . . . . . .10<br />
Mechanics Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16<br />
Mullin Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9<br />
Mark V. Murphy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5<br />
Myers-Stevens-Mello & Co. . . . . . . . . . .17<br />
One Hour Legal Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .17<br />
Pedder, Hesseltine, Walker & Toth, LLP. . 19, 22<br />
Resolution Remedies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6<br />
Julie Schumer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10<br />
Scott Valley Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11<br />
Whiting, Fallon, Ross & Abel LLP, . . . . . . .2<br />
Young Design & Production. . . . . . . . . . .21<br />
Michael J. Young. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7<br />
Youngman, Ericsson & Low, LLP . . . . . . .22<br />
Zandonella Reporting Service . . . . . . . . .23<br />
offices<br />
for rent...<br />
contract<br />
attorneys...<br />
job<br />
opportunities<br />
...<br />
classifieds<br />
Lafayette Office Space<br />
200 s.f. office, $850/month. Two conf<br />
rooms, use (at cost) of phone, fax, photocopier,<br />
scanner. On-site gym and showers.<br />
Free parking. Call 925.284-7788.<br />
Prime Space in Walnut Creek<br />
Space available in separated portion of<br />
law office in prime Class A building in<br />
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Lease a fully furnished window office<br />
w/sec station and tons of amenities. On-site<br />
conf rooms, receptionist service, law library,<br />
telephone system, voice mail, notary (onsite),<br />
copy machines, postage machines,<br />
and mail-handling. Professional Class A<br />
bldg. w/plenty of parking, great location,<br />
and easy access to freeway and BART. Call<br />
Kristie, 925.947-0100, x224.<br />
Walnut Creek Office Space<br />
Treat Blvd near BART. Conf room, fax,<br />
copier, good freeway access. Parking.<br />
$495/month. Call 925.939-2544.<br />
961 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek<br />
Share building with 7 solos. One office<br />
available. All amenities. 925.938-2460.<br />
WC Law Offices at Locust/Bonanza<br />
Large window office $1295; small furn.<br />
office $695. Conf rooms, kitchen, more.<br />
Call Randall at 925.935-5566.<br />
Lafayette Transit Village Office Space<br />
Office in business law firm next to BART<br />
in Lafayette (27 min. to Montgomery Street<br />
BART station). Receptionist, conf. room,<br />
parking, ground floor, only one block from<br />
post office and Lafayette’s restaurant row.<br />
Call Jim or Michelle at 925.284-4447.<br />
Conference rooms for rent<br />
Two conference rooms conveniently<br />
located near the courthouse in downtown<br />
Martinez (CCCBA office). Reasonable rates.<br />
Full catering service avail. 925.370-2549.<br />
professional announcements<br />
Probate paralegal to attorneys<br />
Joanne C. McCarthy. 2204 Concord Blvd.<br />
Concord, CA 94520. Call 925.689-9244.<br />
To place a display or classified advertisement,<br />
please contact Nancy Young at 925.229-2929<br />
or young-design@prodigy.net.<br />
Youngman, Ericsson & Low, LLP<br />
1981 North Broadway • Suite 300<br />
Walnut Creek, CA 94596<br />
Tax <strong>Lawyer</strong>s.<br />
(925) 930-6000<br />
22 March 2009
Will & Trust Litigation<br />
Elder Abuse Litigation • Conservatorships<br />
B A R R & B A R R<br />
A T T O R N E Y S<br />
101 Gregory Lane, Suite 42 • Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4915 • (925) 689-9944<br />
Edward E. <strong>Bar</strong>r<br />
Christopher M. Moore<br />
Loren L. <strong>Bar</strong>r*<br />
John Milgate, Of Counsel<br />
Joseph M. Morrill<br />
Tracey McDonald, Paralegal<br />
*Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, The State <strong>Bar</strong> of California Board of Legal Specialization<br />
<strong>Contra</strong> <strong>Costa</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> 23